Silver Lining

I wish I had paid more attention when my dad tried to teach me about cars. Checking out mentally while watching him make repairs did not help me out so much. Though I still remember the names of some of the parts he replaced, like serpentine belt (serpentine, such a slithery word, isn’t it?) I cannot even fathom how to fix my current car, other than to offer my husband moral support. I really missed out on developing what could have been awesome auto mechanic potential.

I also wish I had paid more attention when my dad built and repaired computers. Unfortunately, I was far too busy noticing how motherboards look like minuscule cities complete with high rises and stadiums. To my credit, I also created back stories for the miniature inhabitants of the imagined dwellings. Alas, and to no one’s great surprise, I never know quite what to do when my computer throws a temper tantrum. Strangely enough, angrily pressing random buttons until something happens is often not the best solution to the problem.

I wish I could tell my dad I wish I had paid more attention. It’s not a good excuse, but I thought we would have so much more time. I also wish I could thank him for all his attempts at explaining the world to me. But, here’s the silver lining in all these dark clouds of regret: because he understood me, my dad always encouraged me to develop my creative talents. He believed in me and my words and my way of seeing the world. If I could share today with him, I think he’d say, “You did okay, kiddo.”